Being green will soon be easier for Hastings residents and visitors.

This spring, nine blue recycling bins will be placed at strategic locations in the downtown area, including the Spray Plaza and Thornapple Plaza, to collect mixed recyclables.

 

City officials stress the bins are for people who are in the downtown area to use for easy recycling of items instead of carrying them around town until they get to their vehicles.

 

Eco-conscious downtown visitors won’t have to look far to find a receptacle for the following recyclables:

· Newspaper and inserts, magazines and catalogs, discarded mail, fliers, envelopes, writing and typing paper, and cracker, cereal, Kleenex and other paste board,

· Aluminum foil and cans; food and beverage containers, pie tins,

· Steel cans; food and beverage containers and empty aerosol cans,

· Clear and colored glass bottles and jars; food and beverage containers only,

·  Plastic Containers #1 - #7; milk jugs, water bottle, detergent and shampoo bottles, butter tubs, yogurt cups, microwave food trays, over proof trays, plant flats, flower pots, condiment bottle, prescription bottles, peanut butter jars, pudding cups, mayonnaise jars, and syrup bottles, plastic bags #2 and #4). //

 

According to the EPA recycling benefits the community by:

· Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and combustion facilities,

· Conserving natural resources such as timber, water and minerals,

·  Preventing pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials,

·  Saving energy,

·   Reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change,

·   Helping to sustain the environment for future generations,

·   Helping create new, well-paying jobs in recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.

The bins were purchased through a mini-grant from the Barry County Solid Waste Oversight Committee that was matched by the Hastings Downtown Development Authority and a grant from the Barry Community Foundation matching the total of each. Les’s Sanitary Service is providing pick-up service at no cost to the city.